News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-02-24
The Living of SIOpton Void.

L am aware that my great success in
ufe has been great surprise to many
OF my acquaintance, who, Judging me
from the fact that | merely took a poll
degree at Cambridge, and knowing
that l possessed neither influence nor
exceptional abilities, deemed that my
fortunes have far exceeded my deserts
am not ignorant that there are some,
even among my warmest friends, who
hint that the means by which | obtained
my advancement and happiness were
not altogether creditable to me. 1t is in
order to refute these imputations and
clear away. the mystery that surrounds
the matter that have resolved to pre-
sent the following narrative. For the
benefit of those who are not acquainted
with me, L may here state that | am in
possession of one of the richest livings
in England, and also of wife of very
great attractiveness. and without fear
respecting their decision, | shall leave
all candid readers to determine whether
| employed any dishonorable means in
order to obtain either of those 1t
were Idle to disguise the fact-good |
things.
When became curate to the Rev. |
though stIll young, had lost almost all
hope of preferment. 1t was my third
curacy; but my ambition, which for
some time had lain dormant, was again
aroused by the wears lovely and ami
able daughter. Fanny was an only
child, and when first saw her had lust
reached her twentieth year. l fell in
love; but the noblest lady in the land
moved from me As / have said. had
no prospects, and the vicar, though not
wealthy, mingled on terms of equality
with the surrounding county families,
among whom, with good reason, both
he and his wife expected a suitable
match for their charming daughter
Though she could not fail to be con
scious of the sentiments | entertained
toward her, for l confess I made them
manifest, Fanny did not in any way
encourage my advances and, indeed,
encouragement on her part would only
have been cruel coquetry or folly, as she
understood as well as myself the seem.
ingly impossible gulf that divided us.
The unvarying amiability of her conduct
toward me, however, kept alive the pas
sion / cherished, and fed my hopes
scarcely less than actual professions of
love. l had been two years in Glover
field when the rector of the neighboring
parish of Shippington died. The living
was In the gift of the bishop, and
though it was poor one it would have
amply satisfied my ambition could I
have spent the remainder of my days
IN the quiet parsonage with her loved.
At the same time, not far from us,
another living was vacant, of very diff
ferent kind, that of Slopton Void, one
ofthe richest in the country The pa
trOn was our squire, Sir Peter Surlyman.
Sir Peter was hard riding, hard drink
ing country gentleman, but he was a
sound churchman, regular church goer,
a good authority on ecclesiastical mat
tiers, and stranger still, a lover of elo-
quent preaching and an admirable critic
of q sermon Now, our bishop. as is
well known, had the reputation of being
one of the most eloquent living pulpit
orators, and being desirous of obtaining
the living of Slopton Wold for his
brother, country rector with moder-
ate income and large family, he had
made an arrangement with Mr.. Jones
that he should preach in Cloverfield,
while Sir Peter was at home, and dine
with the baronet afterward at the vicar
age, when he intended to urge his
brothers claims. Though no actual
negotiations had yet passed between
them, the persons chiefly concerned un-
derstood the matter perfectly. Sir
Peter knew why the bishop was coming
to CloVertield; he greatly admired his
eloquence and was willing to accede to
his wishes. as there was no one upon
whom he specially wished to confer his
patronage.
That the sequel may be better under
stood, | must make here depression on
the subject of my own sermons. Among
the slanders already referred to IN
the report, which has reached my ears,
that do not wri my own sermons, it
has even been said by some that | buy
tnem-statements, / need hardly say,
which are false. / do not, however
claim originality for my sermons. I
have an extensive theological library
filled with the works of our greatest al. |
vines, and | am accustomed to draw
freely upon their thoughts. and even
their language; but the selection ar
rangement, combination and ilInstra-
tlons are entirely nv own. Nv ser.
On0 oiC NdlCIulIy written out by
me, and L consider my claims to them
IS at least as strong as that of the
authors OF much of our original lit
erature to their productions. Imav add
that possess considerable elocutionarv
powers. which | have carefully cult
waited, d that was thought by many
to be second to the gentleman who OBJ
tanned the reading prize in the chapel
at my college in Cambridge.
The day of the bishops sermon ar
rived, and Sir Peter bad accepted the
invitation to meet him Z dinner at the
vicarage. The bishop was to preach in
the morning, and as the vicar h d a
cold l was to conduct the services in
the afternoon. l had spent more than
usual care in the construction of my